Qing's Quest book 2, Chapter 6: The Gilded Hold

Cliomatrix held Qing firm by the throat as they flew high above, two of her harpies holding his legs. The moment Chain Lightning shot from the stump of Qing's arm, ripping through Cliomatrix before arcing to the other two. As the electricity ravaged through their bodies, Cliomatrix’s hand seized around his throat, crushing his windpipe. Then they all went limp, tubmling, the ground rushing against them. Qing's stomach dropped, and he would have screamed if he could, but he had to be laser-focused. He had one chance, and had to time it perfectly. Use the health potion right before impact, so it would heal the life threatening damage first. But, his vision started fading as they fell, brain starved of oxygen. He popped the healing potion while they were a fair bit above the ground. His arms tingled as the flesh regrew below the elbow. He screamed once his throat healed, the earth rushing up. There was nothing to grab onto. Cliomatrix fell, but above him, her feathery wings doing little to slow her descent.

Oh shit.

Qing smacked into the sand dune, feet underneath himself. Both legs snapped and the bones dislocated from his hip as he pushed some of the momentum forward, angling down the hill. He succeeding in slowing his skull’s impact, but as head met sand, the world still went black.

With a groan, Qing opened his eyes, finding Knut and Jenny standing above him.

"You live.“ Jenny said.

Qing blinked and called energy down from above, casting Divine Light on himself.

He winced as the bones moved underneath his skin, snapping in place, then the pain receeded as they healed. With a hiss, he held his arms up, watching as the hands built back up as if 3d-printed from flesh, nerves, and blood. He flexed them, and took a deep sigh.

Thank you, god.

“That was gnarly,” Qing said.

“It was spectacular, brother,“ Knut said, grabbing a hand in both of his. “Thank you for saving me."

"Likewise,” Qing said, looking around. ”Are we safe?"

"For now.” Knut helped him sit. The remaining harpies lay dead, arrows sticking from their chests. But Cliomatrix sat nearby, restrained by Morgana's whip. She cursed at the mercenary, her snake-hair hissing. But when Qing spoke, she stilled and turned her eyes to him with a smile that would make a catholic priest cross his legs.

“My hero…” she purred. “Release and heal me, and I will give you pleasure you have never even imagined.”

Qing and Knut shared a look, and he accepted the mans hand. Legs shaky, he stumbled towards the elite, growing more stable with each step.

Morgana tightened the whip, the magical metal digging into Cliomatrix’s naked flesh, drawing fresh blood. She looked like something taken out of a Conan novel. A Queen, captured, stripped, and tortured, except for the being half-chicken part.

"Why did you attack us?" Qing asked, crinkling his nose at her musty smell. It seemed to come from her chicken legs and feathery wings.

"You're in my territory," she said, and raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Where is the other harpies going?"

"They go to feast on man flesh."

"Call them off."

“I would love to,” she said, tilting her head. "Heal me and let me go. I will fly to my forces and save any men yet alive. You have my word.” She smiled beautifully.

Qing shivered. "How can I trust anything you say?"

"You have defeated me and shown your strength. Kill these women and I will be your mate for life. We’ll take the world by storm, from the skies. You’ll have a tribe of us at your beck and call. The blood of our enemies will—“

“Quiet! I’ve heard enough," Qing said. “Knut?”

He held out his hand, and the handle of Paulhandler’s Keg-smasher smacked into it. "I will leave no enemy at our backs.”

"No!” She said, the snakes dancing in mesmerizing movements, and her eyes went wide. “Wait. I can give you—"

The axe bit into her neck, cleanly separating head from body, and it rolled towards him. The snakes still lived, and snapped towards him, but he dodged.

“Oh, hell no!”

He called on the heat of the desert, mixed it with mana, and conjured up a Firebolt, casting it at the head.

The snakes seemed to scream as they burnt to crisps.

"I didn't think you had that in you," Jenny said.

“I stand by my words," Qing said as he wiped the blood off his axe. "I will not leave an enemy at our back, to stop us from our quest. We have delayed long enough as it is," Qing said, walking over to Cliometrix’s corpse. He looked down at the bloody corpse before bending down and pulling out three snow white feathers, from her wings, untainted by blood.

Item: [Harpy Feather of the Princess] x 3 has been added to your inventory.

"What's that for?" Jenny asked.

"I don't know. Just felt right, I guess. You never know when a harpy feather might come in handy.” He nodded at Knut. ”Five minutes ago, I think we both would have given, if not an arm, then at least a pinky finger for a slow-fall potion or somesuch…" Qing smiled wistfully at Knut, who nodded in agreement.

"True."

Next, Qing picked up the golden sword she had wielded.

Item: [Dawn's Edge, Level 17, Unique] has been added to your inventory.

This arming sword was bathed in the first light of dawn's break, capturing the promise of a new day. Its edge is forever sharp, and its hilt adorned with a sunstone that warms in the presence of danger. It was famously used by Elenora Lightfoot, a Templar of renown who used its power to end the tyranny of the Burgundy Shadowlord.

+300 Attack Power

+100 Defence

+20 to Dexterity

Hilt warms in the presence of danger.

(Sword, One-handed)

”Switching to swords?" Jenny asked.

"Maybe in a few levels," Qing replied. “But all the items here are higher than me, so I can’t use it yet. Anyone want it?”

They all shook their heads.

“What does it mean that the items are higher level than you?” Morgana asked.

“It's not a great sign," Qing said. "It might mean the monsters are stronger than we are.”

“This fight was too close,” Morgana said, nodding, as she unhooking her whip from the dead body and running it through the sand to get the blood off.

"What do you mean?" Knut asked.

"Maybe we are not ready,” Morgana said, picking out a piece of skin stuck in her whip. “Maybe we need to... “

“No,” Qing said, interrupting. “We hurry. Cleo should not be left alone here a minute more than she has to.” They all nodded, Morgana albeit a bit slower.

“Bring their knives," Jenny said.

"How come? Don't you have enough weapons?" Qing said.

"Yes, but these are pure gold," Jenny said with a rare smile.

Qing's eyebrows rose. "Pure gold? Are you sure? I thought gold was a soft metal and these definitely stabbed like iron.”

“Not pure then, but there's more gold in each of these than three gold coins, at least,” Jenny said and tossed him one.

Item: [Golden Dagger, Level 10, Uncommon] has been added to your inventory.

A dagger made from gold and iron. Pointy and sharp, it will kill.

+30 Attack Power

(Dagger, One-handed)

“Excellent!” Knut said, and clapped his hands together. “Let’s gather them all.”

“But who's going to carry it all?" Morgana asked and nodded with her head, and something in her tone made Qing look.

"Oh, God, no," Qing said. The camels lay dead. Ripped apart. All except Smokey, who stood stamping on shaky legs, alive but bleeding. A harpy lay underneath him, trampled to death.

"I'm so sorry," Qing said as he sprinted over, pulling down energy from above, casting Divine Light on the camel. Smokey grunted mournfully, but as the wounds healed, he straightened.

Qing hugged Smokey’s head. "I'm sorry I let them hurt you.” Smokey snorted and pushed at him, but not too hard, seemingly forgiving him.

After burying the remains of the camels and redistributing their supplies, with most of it going on top of Smokey and the rest into Qing's inventory, they marched into the desert.

For the rest of the day, Qing gained the new nickname, 'the fourth hump', due to how much stuff they stuffed into his inventory.

***

Two days later, they crested a hill, dusk cloaking the desert in hues of gold and amber. Qing's eyes widened as he stared down at a city unlike any he had ever seen. "What is that?" Silhouettes of cerulean blue domed rooftops sat on towering spires with white walls.

"That, my friend, is the Gilded Hold," Knut said, clapping Qing on the back. "It's a city where the wealth of worlds converge."

“But there is plenty of shadow in the city," Jenny added as the wind ruffled Qing's hair, bringing with it the salty tang of the sea, mingled with the fragrance of spices.

"I've never seen desert and ocean so close."

"It's one of a kind," Morgana said, who had grown increasingly quiet with each mile.

On the far side, by the ocean, lay a bustling harbor, ships large and small, their hulls flat or deep. A metropolis of the ancient world.

Qing was about to step forward when he spotted something in the darkness. He squinted at the fading light. "What is that?" He pointed at something outside the city walls, unlit by the flickering lights abundant in the rest of the city.

"That's the pyramid," Jenny said, "Bad place."

"They have a damn pyramid?" Qing asked. “What for? Burying their dead?” He’d read about Egypt.

"Of course not," Knut said, “How wasteful would that be? No. The pyramids are said to gather magical energies, easing spellcasting within and magic there regenerates faster.”

“How’d you know?”

“Common knowledge.”

“If it’s true,” Jenny added.

“Huh,” Qing said, scratching his cheeks. “Let me guess. They've got slaves here, don't they?" "

“Yep," Jenny said, "A beautiful city, but built on suffering."

In the middle of the city stood a massive tower with a domed top, like an overcompensating Taj Mahal. "I guess that's where we'll find the king."

"Yeah. That’s the palace, right next to the Grand Library."

“Doesn’t look much different, does it, Jenny.”

“Nope. The Gilded Hold never changes. For good or bad.”

The last part of light faded behind the desert, casting the city into twilight.

Qing sighed. The city looked massive, and had to house hundreds of thousands. "Let's get going.”

I’ve got a bad feeling about this place.

But he kept it to himself. No way he’d be dumb enough to say something like that.

An hour of walking saw them approaching a gatehouse, manned by five guards leaning on their spears and shields.

"What do you want?" the tallest guard asked, swaggering out.

"To enter the city," Qing said, as if it was obvious.

"It's too late. No-one enters now. You'll have to come back tomorrow."

"We're here to see the king and cannot be delayed," Qing said.

The guards eyes widened and he looked to the ones behind him. “Heard what he said? Here to see the king?”

The others laughed, albeit somewhat forced.

“Yes. Now please let us through.” He knew it wouldn’t be this easy, but he had to try.

The guard waved them off as if they were naught by a fly. "Why don't you take your three-humped camel, your ugly women, and fuck right off.”

Qing tensed and stepped forward, but Morgana stopped him, hand on his shoulder.

She whispered, ”I know a way in. Let’s just go.”

“We can't afford any delay," Qing said. “Let us through.”

“Or else?” the guard asked.

Qing pulled the heat left in the air and fet it mana, conjuring a Firebolt. In his other hands he equipped his axe, and cast Smite, making the weapon glow. Shadows danced across the gatehouse and the guards hastily raised spears and shields as their leader screamed, “Mage!”

Knut cursed.